Canada’s psychiatrists urged to screen people at risk of AI ‘chatbot psychosis’ – Dr. Palaniyappan
Published on: 2026-05-05 07:00
May 5, 2026,
An article in the National Post reports on emerging concerns among psychiatrists about the potential mental-health risks linked to intense interactions with artificial intelligence chatbots.
Dr. Lena Palaniyappan and Alban Voppel, postdoctoral researcher, discuss how certain vulnerable individuals may develop unhealthy relationships with conversational AI systems. The article highlights a phenomenon described as “chatbot psychosis,” in which prolonged conversations with chatbots may reinforce or amplify delusional beliefs in individuals already vulnerable to psychosis.
« They are designed to be human-like (anthropomorphic) in their presentation, though they are constantly accessible, lack conversational fatigue and are devoid of the complexities and boundaries that characterize human-to-human interactions. »
– Dr. Lena Palaniyappan
Psychiatrists are therefore encouraged to screen patients—particularly adolescents and young adults—for patterns of intense chatbot engagement and to better understand how these interactions may influence mental health.
« It’s the same with chatbot-induced psychosis. It’s not caused by the chatbot. There is probably an underlying vulnerability. But these chatbots can physically accelerate the movement toward having an active psychotic episode. »
– Alban Voppel
Dr. Lena Palaniyappan also participated in a QR Calgary podcast on the same topic, further discussing emerging concerns around the mental-health implications of artificial intelligence chatbots.
Canada’s psychiatrists urged to screen people at risk of AI ‘chatbot psychosis’ – Dr. Palaniyappan
Media: Website
Source: National Post